I don't know if anyone has asked this before, but did the Queen speak english? I know she was friends with quite a few English people but I guess I am just curious as to whether she could speak it very well? Or did she use translators of some sorts?

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Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:40 am

Pimprenelle

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:54 amPosts: 2040

Mme Campan reports that Marie Antoinette had for a while English lessons.

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Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:27 am

TsmnDs

Marquis/Marquise

Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:26 pmPosts: 134

Most English aristocracy spoke French at that time. For some, it was their preferred language. So they would have been quite at home speaking to the Queen in French.

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Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:32 am

Therese

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:04 pmPosts: 2266

Yes, the queen studied English and could speak it haltingly. She was fascinated in English past times such as horse-racing, tea-time, English country dances. She had many English friends, and once made a faux-pas in her English that had very proper Lady Spencer (Georgiana's mother) running from the room. Very funny.

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Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:20 pm

Locks of Louis

Comte/Comtesse

Joined: Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:23 pmPosts: 40Location: Sydney, Australia

Quite right, French was actually the court language, it was spoken at court not only in England, but in Germany and other places (Austria and Russia were among them I think). I think most official letters sent between countries at the time were in French.

I know that Louis XVI knew English very well, and even read books in English.

I wonder what the faux-pas was...maybe something about riding.

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Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:43 am

Therese

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:04 pmPosts: 2266

I think she mispronounced the word "breeches," without the 'r.' Something like that....

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Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:01 am

Monsieur Royale

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:48 pmPosts: 467Location: USA

Therese wrote:

I think she mispronounced the word "breeches," without the 'r.' Something like that....

that is too funny

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Quite right, French was actually the court language, it was spoken at court not only in England, but in Germany and other places (Austria and Russia were among them I think). I think most official letters sent between countries at the time were in French.

I know that Louis XVI knew English very well, and even read books in English.

I wonder what the faux-pas was...maybe something about riding.

my dad always told me that french was the diplomatic language of europe and was always used by officials, royals etc. its such a shame that languages in the UK are as widely taught as they used to be, after all we're still part of europe and trade with each other.

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Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:17 pm

TsmnDs

Marquis/Marquise

Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:26 pmPosts: 134

I believe the faux-pas was all to do with pronunciation. As Scots, Severina, I suspect you and I would pronunce breeches just as it's written: br-ee-ches. Down in the home counties, though, they pronounce it 'britches'. If Marie Antoinette pronounced it the same way but missed the 'r' she'd have said bitches.

I believe the faux-pas was all to do with pronunciation. As Scots, Severina, I suspect you and I would pronunce breeches just as it's written: br-ee-ches. Down in the home counties, though, they pronounce it 'britches'. If Marie Antoinette pronounced it the same way but missed the 'r' she'd have said bitches.

that's right! poor MA, she was obviously trying hard to speak english, i hope they were sympathetic at the time!

_________________“No one understands my ills, nor the terror that fills my breast, who does not know the heart of a mother.”

Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:54 pm

Therese

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:04 pmPosts: 2266

Lady Spencer was greatly offended and ran out of the palace, waving people aside with her cane.

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